After coming into being not too long ago, in 2016, the OperaVPN service made an enormous impact on Android and iOS users. It was the first-ever free 100% VPN application to use while providing its end-users with exceptional performance, even better than some of the paid VPN services out there.
At the beginning of 2018, SurfEasy, a VPN service provider, acquired OperaVPN and consequently announced that OperaVPN would terminate its services by the 30th of April of the same year.
That was tragic news for those who grew fond of the free VPN for their safe surfing over the internet.
Now, as everyone needs to move on to maintain their privacy, and the fact that not everyone can afford a premium VPN service like ExpressVPN, we went out and tested alternatives to Opera VPN.
In this article, I will list the four best Opera VPN alternatives that have apps for Android and iOS phones. So let’s dive in and see which one suits our needs.
Best alternatives to Opera VPN today
1. TunnelBear VPN
Like once, OperaVPN was, TunnelBear VPN is continuously growing to be one of the most go-to VPN services for mobile users.
It provides both free and paid versions and has an eye-catching yet easy-to-use interface for beginners. Below are some of the highlighted TunnelBear VPN features:
- Up to 500MB monthly data stipend for free users (1GB if you tweet about it)
- Free users can access 19 different locations
- Available for Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, IOS, Android, and Chrome OS
- Possesses a Kill Switch
- It doesn’t keep track of the logs
- Excellent connection speeds
- Offers money-back guarantee for seven days
Not long ago, McAfee, one of the top-tier tech-security firms, acquired TunnelBear VPN. Hence, it is a no-brainer that TunnelBear VPN will provide even better services to its users in the near future, for which you need to be on the lookout for its upcoming policies.
2. Windscribe VPN
The second on the list of our best Opera VPN alternatives is Windscribe VPN. This free VPN app is available on most devices, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Chrome, and Firefox. Talking about added privacy tools, it also offers an ad blocker and firewall.
With easy location spoofing, it allows you to avoid geological restrictions. A prime example is that you can use it for locations with severe censorship and robust web control like China.
The following are the essential characteristics that this OperaVPN alternative offers:
- 11 servers available with excellent speed
- No data logs
- Military-grade encryption and ideal secrecy are enabled across all connections
- Windflix for Netflix
- 10GB monthly data allowance for free users
- Offers 3 Days money-back guarantee
3. ProtonVPN
Proton VPN is a Switzerland-based VPN service provided by the same security experts’ company that created the renowned end-to-end encrypted email platform ProtonMail.
Like all other famous VPN services mentioned above, ProtonVPN offers a dedicated Android VPN app alongside the applications for iOS, Mac, and Windows operating systems. In addition, the VPN is available in multiple languages, including French, Italian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Spanish.
Another cool thing about it is that the provider has made all of its applications open-source. As a result, anyone can test and analyze the apps for potential vulnerabilities, which ultimately helps keep the apps secure. Besides, users can use the service on up to 10 devices simultaneously with a single account.
ProtonVPN also boasts the following key features:
- No advertisements
- No bandwidth limits
- A seven-day trial period for the premium version
- Bullet-proof security
- Elegant and easy to use UI
- Servers in Switzerland, Netherlands, USA, India, and Japan
- No data logs
4. Hide.me VPN
Malaysian-based Hide.me VPN service doesn’t provide a significant number of free servers, but they are available in diverse locations like Canada, Singapore, and the Netherlands.
It is essentially beneficial if you are only looking for a VPN to spoof your geo-location and don’t need a hefty amount of data, then this is the right choice for you.
Although, Hide.me doesn’t provide many servers in its free version. Yet, it still can be considered a good Opera VPN free alternative as it caters to safe and stable services for basic needs like securing public hotspots and accessing essential geo-restrictive content.
The following are the key features this OperaVPN alternative provides to its users.
- Decent speeds on free servers
- 2 Gigabytes data limit per month for free accounts
- Uses OpenVPN to ensure the security
- Lifetime free service
- Zero data logs
- Apps available for iOS, Android, Mac, Chrome, and Windows
Indeed, the Opera VPN was an excellent free VPN service application, and it is unfortunate to see it shut down permanently.
However, to stay anonymous while surfing the internet, we all need the next best VPN service. I hope the Opera alternatives listed above with their crucial characteristics will help you find the one you require. Do check them out and see for yourself.
An important note
If you are really serious about your online protection, it is recommended that you avoid free VPN services. While free VPNs will enable you to save a few bucks every month, as per some reports, the risks to your data and internet privacy are not worth it.
Nonetheless, all the free alternatives to Opera VPN listed above have gone through extensive testing.
These VPNs were featured only after I, alongside the whole cybersecurity team at PrivacySavvy, ensured they do not leak your data or compromise your security as most free VPNs do.
Still, you should never expect perfection from a service or product you get for free. Just keep in mind that a business that does not mind you using its service or product free of cost somehow needs to make money.
Getting a free VPN account costs you much more than what you would be paying for a premium subscription. When using free VPNs, you mostly pay in the form of slow speeds, data misuse, adverts bombardment by the free VPN, bandwidth leakage, and tracking of your online activities.
So, it is always recommended to go with quality premium VPNs like ExpressVPN as an investment. You’ll have more secure and faster connections alongside a completely open internet with greater privacy. And best of all, complete peace of mind.
Further reading
If you’d want to learn about the many advantages VPNs provide, check out our complete guide on VPNs for beginners.
Also, unblocking Netflix overseas is one of the most common uses for a VPN. And no free VPN guarantees Netflix access. So, you will unquestionably need a premium VPN for that. Should such a need arise for you, you can check out our list of best Netflix VPNs.
Featured Image via Pixabay.
